Customer Reviews

Jazz Winds From a New Direction

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The stories behind this album are too numerous to mention. Just know that it's one of the greatest recordings of all time. If you love guitar, and I don't care if you're a jazz artist or a metal head, then you will be floored by this CD. After you pick yourself up, go to HankGarland.com and read the whole story. It's fascinating.

Jazz Winds From a New Direction - Columbia Records (JCS 8372)
Hank Garland Joe Morello, drums Gary Burton, vibes Joe Benjamin, bass

by John Hammond

It would be fairly safe to venture that Hank Garland is the most
recorded of all guitarists. There is scarcely a Country Record emanating
from Nashville, Tennessee, in which he is not featured behind the
troubadours of the Grand Ol' Opry. But it is nothing less than
revolutionary to find him leading as tasty a jazz combo as can be heard,
on records only, in this year of 1961. We should not be too surprised
when a Country and Western star steps right into the forefront of jazz
stars. For Hank Garland isn't the first country boy to make it big in
the jazz world. But Hank is the first to do it without leaving
Nashville. Let us hasten to add that the Hank Garland All-Stars is a
group assembled solely for the purpose of making this album in
Columbia's Nashville studios. Joe Morello, the superb drummer with Dave
Brubeck, was flown in from New York for the occasion, along with Joe
Benjamin, one of New York's top bassists. A seventeen-year old vibe
player from Princeton, Indiana, Gary Burton, completes the quartet and
immediately proves himself one of the discoveries of the year.

For the benefit of future editions of "The Encyclopedia of Jazz", Hank
Garland wa born near Spartanburg, South Carolina on November 11, 1930.
He graduated from banjo to guitar and arrived in Nashville during his
early teens. He was in Paul Howard's band in the late Forties and made
his first Northern tour, joined for a short time by the same Joe Morello
with whom he is reunited on this disc. Except for private jamming in
clubs around Nashville, he has never before this year publicly
identified himself with jazz.

Last July, however, Hank Garland was the motivating force behind a
Nashville group that trekked to Newport for the 1960 Jazz Festival. They
were scheduled to appear on July 4th, but the riots had closed down the
Festival the day before and the group was never heard by the fans. The
trip was not entirely fruitless, however, for the combo, under the name
of the Nashville All-Stars, was recorded there by another label. All
this information is but preamble to the title of the first selection on
Side Two, "Riot-chous." It is a fast blues of enormous power, and an
altogether fitting commemoration of the most tragic event in recent jazz
history. "Relaxing" which follows, is a slower blues in which Hank's
opening statement sounds like a reincarnation of Charlie Christian.

The first side opens with a beautifully organized "All the Things You
Are," which makes it seem all but impossible that this was the first and
only time the group was together. After this comes and effective blues
in waltz time, then a jumping "Move," followed by an intricate version
of the Irving Berlin standard, "Always."

Not only was this Hank Garland's debut as a jazz leader. Don Law, dean
of all the Country and Western Artists and Repertoire men, supervise his
first jazz session in nearly thirty years of recording and proved
himself a threat to all of us who consider ourselves authorities. The
last laugh may be on him, if Hank deserts Nashville for the world of
jazz.

The above notes were taken from the original jacket....... :-)

I have heard quite a few guitarists play "All the Things You Are." It is a beautiful song and has been interpreted so many ways. I was stunned when I heard this version - it has so much energy and pure joy - I will never grow tired of the melodic interplay between Garland and Burton. Maybe like a drive on a lovely country road, going ninety miles an hour! Makes me smile just thinking about it. All the album is wonderful, but that song, for me, just takes you away.

When I was a serious guitar student, back in the '70s this recording was as scarce as hen's teeth and jazz guitarists would pay a very high price for a copy on vinyl. Hank Garland's life story is a trajedy worthy of ancient Greek theater but the playing is the real story here.

There is no other example of free, fast and uninhibited improvisation like the Guitar (and Vibes) solos on this recording. Heart, mind, fingers and guitar were all in perfect sync that day. This was a man blowing solos off the top of his head at breakneck speed and never making an error. If Hank Garland had not suffered his terrible injuries shortly after the making of this recording I am confident that he would have become a household name.

as good as any jazz album, seriously; really great

after viewing the movie "Crazy," i had to find out more about this fantastic artist. at first i was reminded of the artistry and skill of Danny Gatton and others like him. it seems that all these tracks are included in the more comprehensive "Move!" album which i have downloaded here via Amazon. much of what can be said about Mr. Garland's music and story is already here for the reading; there is little for me to add except for a strong recommendation to catch and enjoy anything Garland-ish.

Each time I listen to any of the songs on this album I am inspired to play guitar. Hank Garland is one of my favorite guitarists. His chords, phrasing, and improvisation are best of the best on this album and he was only around 30 years old when recorded.

Gary Burton was around 19 years old and nailed it. Unbelievable the way he could play then and especially now. Buy this work of art if/when you find it.

I love the old classic country guitar players. Chet Atkins, would have to be my favorite country guitar player of the 50's and 60's. You wouldn't think so, but back then, country and jazz had its ties.

Just listen to a Chet Atkins album. You will easily hear his group go into a swing, and Atkins will be swinging and improvising away. I don't think any of the country guitar players of the 50's and 60's admitted that they were playing with some jazz influence, but all the same, it sounded tremendous.

Hank Garland. Now he goes both ways. He can be a real great country guitar player, or a real down home jazz player. Or he can meet you in the middle, as he does on this wonderful release.

The album opens up with a warm version of All The Things You Are. Vibraphonist, Gary Burton takes the melody, while Hank backs him up. A nice blend. Hank takes the first solo, while Burton repetively plays the melody behind him. Burton then delivers a nice solo.

Three Four, The Blues, is the next piece. It is a beautifully done blues, swung in 3/4. Drummer Joe Morello, thanks to his experience in the Dave Brubeck group, leads the group here, improvising just as easily and just as soulfully as they would have done in a 4/4 situation.

Time for an allegro piece. Denzel Best's Move, is next. Note the way Joe Morello plays the melody on the drums behind Garland, and Burton. After a beautiful drum solo, they're back into the melody.

Next, is a piece to feature the bassist, Joe Benjamin. Always. Joe Benjamin takes the melody, while Garland comps in the background. Garland switches to acoustic for this piece to make for a subtle swinging little jazz piece. Perhaps, Garland's country influence has caught up to him in this piece.

Garland, was clearly an expert a taking songs in up tempo. Riot-chous, is a very fast swing. The album closes out with Relaxing. The title fits the piece perfectally.

Hank Garland, probaly one of the most underrated guitarists in jazz. He delivers a nice album here. It swings in every-which-way!

I love the old classic country guitar players. Chet Atkins, would have to be my favorite country guitar player of the 50's and 60's. You wouldn't think so, but back then, country and jazz had its ties.

Just listen to a Chet Atkins album. You will easily hear his group go into a swing, and Atkins will be swinging and improvising away. I don't think any of the country guitar players of the 50's and 60's admitted that they were playing with some jazz influence, but all the same, it sounded tremendous.

Hank Garland. Now he goes both ways. He can be a real great country guitar player, or a real down home jazz player. Or he can meet you in the middle, as he does on this wonderful release.

The album opens up with a warm version of All The Things You Are. Vibraphonist, Gary Burton takes the melody, while Hank backs him up. A nice blend. Hank takes the first solo, while Burton repetively plays the melody behind him. Burton then delivers a nice solo.

Three Four, The Blues, is the next piece. It is a beautifully done blues, swung in 3/4. Drummer Joe Morello, thanks to his experience in the Dave Brubeck group, leads the group here, improvising just as easily and just as soulfully as they would have done in a 4/4 situation.

Time for an allegro piece. Denzel Best's Move, is next. Note the way Joe Morello plays the melody on the drums behind Garland, and Burton. After a beautiful drum solo, they're back into the melody.

Next, is a piece to feature the bassist, Joe Benjamin. Always. Joe Benjamin takes the melody, while Garland comps in the background. Garland switches to acoustic for this piece to make for a subtle swinging little jazz piece. Perhaps, Garland's country influence has caught up to him in this piece.

Garland, was clearly an expert a taking songs in up tempo. Riot-chous, is a very fast swing. The album closes out with Relaxing. The title fits the piece perfectally.

Hank Garland, probaly one of the most underrated guitarists in jazz. He delivers a nice album here. It swings in every-which-way!

People are tellin' me, jazz fans would pay a high price for this album on record? Cool. I got it for about 10 bucks on E-Bay. Then, when I saw this album on CD, I had to get it. Did I have to get it because it was a great album, not really, but because to presences of drummer Joe Morello. I'm a MOrello collector, and anything he's on, I get! But this album ain't totally that bad. The first side is great. (first three tracks for cd owners)
All The Things U R just swings, and The 3/4 song also does, especially with Morello's solos. Move is good, but there is a lot of "dead" songs on side two. It seams that the rythm section just kept time, while Garland soloed in a quite way, with his acoustic guitar. Some allstar players are on this album to. The basist here, dont member his name, is not that famous, but Gary Burton grew into a fine vibraphonist in the future. On this album, he still had a lot to learn about backing someone up. Although, vibes can get pretty loud, Burton's a little loud for my ears, and the sound kinda floods out the other instruments. Anyway, this was a fine solo effort on Garland's behalf.